How to talk about rape and sexual assault, according to survivors

How should we talk about rape and sexual assault? How do you tell your friends and family you have become a victim? How do you talk to close friends who are survivors themselves about it?

“So I think this act of disclosure, telling somebody you’ve been raped, it’s a huge thing for victims right?” says Winnie M Li. “Because you’re always scared if you tell your story, is a person going to believe you, are they going to make fun of you, are they going to blame you?”

Winnie is just one of the seven people who feature in Life After Sexual Violence, a seven part series which throws a spotlight on the reality of life after a sex attack.

Our participants include Emily Jacob, 44, who runs ReConnected Life, a coaching and community program for survivors of sexual violence; Tanaka Mhishi, 24, a writer from London; Imogen Butler-Cole, 40, an actor and performer with a solo stage show ‘Foreign Body’, about life after sexual assault; Sophie Yates Lu, 28, a campaigner from London; Winnie M Li a writer and film producer, whose new book ‘Dark Chapter’ won the Guardian’s “Not the Booker” prize; Faye White, 25, a journalist; Alex Bryce, 34, a political advisor.

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